Protests demanding the expulsion of Israel from the World Medical Association will be staged by Cosatu and its affiliates Nehawu and Denosa, the trade union federation said on Thursday.

The Democratic Nursing Association and the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union were supported by the Islamic Medical Association and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS), said Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven.

“We call on and trust that the SA Medical Association (Sama), another one of our Cosatu health sector affiliates, in line with the federation’s support for BDS, will raise a motion in conference calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Medical Association.”

He said the protest would be staged outside the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, where the WMA is holding its general assembly.

However, Sama president Dr Mzukisi Grootboom said the organisation was not bringing any motion regarding the Israeli Medical Association before the WMA general assembly.